BChandler
New member
I would like to fit or have fitted a small diesel engine to replace my outboard. Has anybody carried out this conversion or have have any contacts who would do the job? I have contacted Hunter who say the job is possible.
Horizon 23 diesel option
- Thread starter BChandler
- Start date
G
Guest
Guest
did this job myself on a hunter 26, and suspect it wouldnt be much different on the 23.
quite easy, but lengthy with having to work everything out for the first time.
got a complete kit of bits from a yanmar agent, John Skewes at Cellar marine (did a good job). The Hunter had engine bearers already glassed in and I seem to remember Hunter giving me some basic written instructions.
pm me if you want some details.
quite easy, but lengthy with having to work everything out for the first time.
got a complete kit of bits from a yanmar agent, John Skewes at Cellar marine (did a good job). The Hunter had engine bearers already glassed in and I seem to remember Hunter giving me some basic written instructions.
pm me if you want some details.
JimC
Well-known member
I have been aboard a Horizon 23 which had a works-fitted diesel. The engine housing took up the centre part of the rear double berth, turning it into just a single quarter berth.
On my own Hoizon 23 I wanted something better than the supplied Yamaha 5hp outboard but I still wanted to keep the double berth. I replaced the Yamaha with a Mariner 6hp four-stroke outboard with sail-drive prop, alternator and remotes; cost about £1K. This has totally transformed my motoring & motorsailing. It is much quieter - with the noise that is pruduced being of a less tiring pitch, about twice as economical, and it drives the boat better. I motor at 5 knots on half to three quarter throttle depending on sea and wind. With the single lever remotes it's just like having an inboard except it's quieter and more vibration-free than most diesel inboards, also you can retract the prop for sailing.
Consider this option before going for a diesel.
On my own Hoizon 23 I wanted something better than the supplied Yamaha 5hp outboard but I still wanted to keep the double berth. I replaced the Yamaha with a Mariner 6hp four-stroke outboard with sail-drive prop, alternator and remotes; cost about £1K. This has totally transformed my motoring & motorsailing. It is much quieter - with the noise that is pruduced being of a less tiring pitch, about twice as economical, and it drives the boat better. I motor at 5 knots on half to three quarter throttle depending on sea and wind. With the single lever remotes it's just like having an inboard except it's quieter and more vibration-free than most diesel inboards, also you can retract the prop for sailing.
Consider this option before going for a diesel.
BChandler
New member
Thank you for the replies so far, I have also considered a larger outboard but thought that the diesel option although a lot more expensive would give me better performance and much improved slow speed control. Any comments.
PuffTheMagicDragon
Active member
It all depends on your priorities. Years ago, when I had a Vivacity 20, I was sick of the smell of petrol and I was not too keen on having to lug a heavy (for me) chunk of metal outboard each time I wanted to go sailing and then once more before going home. I managed to fit a single cylinder, raw water cooled diesel losing only the locker under the bridgedeck. I don't know about the Hunter 23 but presumably it should be even easier since there are 3 more feet of boat. These are the advantages I had found: (1) convenience (2) batteries always topped up (3) reserve power to get me home against a force 5/6 (4) no smell of petrol (5) no danger from explosive fumes, and, (6) EXTREME economy - trolling speed, around 5 knots, would see me getting just under 6 hours from 1 gallon of cheap diesel which, at that time, cost less than half the price of petrol. I had put in a Lombardini doing all the work myself but a Yanmar would have been just as good, spacewise. Make sure that you can get at the parts that require attention relatively easy :- oil and fuel filters, air cleaner, oil fill, sump drain, and gearbox. I had made a set of steps to cover the front part and I had removable panels at the side to gain access to the oil filter. If your engine has a front mounted filter then this might not be necessary.
Good luck.
Wally
Good luck.
Wally
JimC
Well-known member
I can only say that I find performance, including low speed conrollability, perfectly OK with the Mariner o/b. I would say the key features are the 4 stroke economy, fume freedom, and quietness; together with the drive from the saildrive prop which is designed to have high reverse thrust. The single lever remotes are a must to save having to open the locker to get at the engine controls.
You won't get much over 5.5 knots under power whatever engine you use because the Horizon 23 has the wrong underwater shape for fast motoring. It shares the Sonata hull which was designed for knifing along to windward, well heeled.
Good Luck.
You won't get much over 5.5 knots under power whatever engine you use because the Horizon 23 has the wrong underwater shape for fast motoring. It shares the Sonata hull which was designed for knifing along to windward, well heeled.
Good Luck.
sparkie
Member
Am very interested in this exchange of views as I am seriously considering a Horizon 23 for my next boat. Could Jim C enlighten me as to the "saildrive" Mariner? The only o/b motors I have seen have a straight leg, short or long being the only options.
I'm also interested in the alternator mentioned- I have one fitted to my present Honda 5 but it doesn't seem to have much wumph and doesn't do much for the battery. Is the Mariner more effective?
I've seen some Horizons for sale with a diesel fitted but most offered seem to have the o/b option.
On a more general note, how does the 23 perform under sail? My present 20 footer sails well and I wouldn't like to trade up to something that didn't point or tack well. Also I have drying beach mooring and some Duettes I've seen assume a bow down position when drying out- does the 23 suffer from the same problem??
Safe sailing
Sparkie
I'm also interested in the alternator mentioned- I have one fitted to my present Honda 5 but it doesn't seem to have much wumph and doesn't do much for the battery. Is the Mariner more effective?
I've seen some Horizons for sale with a diesel fitted but most offered seem to have the o/b option.
On a more general note, how does the 23 perform under sail? My present 20 footer sails well and I wouldn't like to trade up to something that didn't point or tack well. Also I have drying beach mooring and some Duettes I've seen assume a bow down position when drying out- does the 23 suffer from the same problem??
Safe sailing
Sparkie
G
Guest
Guest
if the 23 is like my 26, the outboard will be offset to the starboard side in a cockpit locker. i didnt like this. the boat was tender and difficult to sail to windward in a 6 - enough sail to power up brought excessive heel and griping, whilst reducing sail meant insufficient power. the obviousresponse was to use engine and motor sail, but this could only be done effectively on one tack - the outboard coming clear of the water on the starboard tack when the boat was well heeled.
installing a diesel cured all this, avoided dodgy petrol refueling at sea, was far more reliable than the honda outboard, far cheaper to run etc. it was the best thing i ever did to that boat.
installing a diesel cured all this, avoided dodgy petrol refueling at sea, was far more reliable than the honda outboard, far cheaper to run etc. it was the best thing i ever did to that boat.
JimC
Well-known member
Mariner make a series of outboards designated as 'Sailmates', these include Sailmate versions of the 4 to 6 hp fourstrokes. These engines have a special fine-pitch prop designed for moving heavy hulls at displacement speeds, they also have high thrust in reverse to stop you and for manouvering. Unfortunately the Sailmates are only available in long-shaft which is no good for the Horizon 23 so you have to buy a standard shaft 6hp fourstroke and specify the sailmate prop as an extra, ditto the alternator & remotes. The alternator keeps my 110 ah battery topped up Ok.
The engine on the H23 is offset to port but I have never had my prop come out of the water when motorsailing. You have to shave about 1/4 inch from the top of the mounting board to give clearance for the power head when retracting the engine - this obviously puts the prop a bit deeper.
The H23 sails well - which it should do being basically a twin-finned Sonata. It is particularly good beating into short steep seas which would stop most yachts of similar size (I sail in Morecambe Bay).
Mine has occasionally been known to go down by the bows on drying out, this has always been when in a river channel where the silt has been flowing from under the keels as the boat settled. On reasonably solid sand or mud she dries out level and 2 people can go onto the foredeck without pushing the bows down.
I like my H23 - suggest you send for the YM & PBO test reports from the PBO Copyshop, if you haven't already.
Good Luck
The engine on the H23 is offset to port but I have never had my prop come out of the water when motorsailing. You have to shave about 1/4 inch from the top of the mounting board to give clearance for the power head when retracting the engine - this obviously puts the prop a bit deeper.
The H23 sails well - which it should do being basically a twin-finned Sonata. It is particularly good beating into short steep seas which would stop most yachts of similar size (I sail in Morecambe Bay).
Mine has occasionally been known to go down by the bows on drying out, this has always been when in a river channel where the silt has been flowing from under the keels as the boat settled. On reasonably solid sand or mud she dries out level and 2 people can go onto the foredeck without pushing the bows down.
I like my H23 - suggest you send for the YM & PBO test reports from the PBO Copyshop, if you haven't already.
Good Luck
G
Guest
Guest
I BOUGHT A HORIZON 23 THREE SEASONS AGO
EXCELLENT FOR SINGLE HANDED SAILING
FOUND THE OUTBOARD A REAL PAIN -- WIFE COULDN,T START IT- YOU HAD TO MOVE EVERYONE OFF THE COCK PIT SEAT TO START IT -- NOISY -- UNECONOMIC --UNRELIABLE -- LACK OF POWER ESPECIALLY ONPORT TACK OR AGAIST WIND AND TIDE
ONLY SOLUTION SEEMED TO BE WAS TO FIT A DIESEL INBOARD
I SPOKE TO STEVE DALTON THE MAN THAT FITS THE NANNI INBOARDS TO ALL THE HUNTER BOATS AT HUNTERS YARD AT ROCHFORD
THEY ARE SUPPLIED AND FITTED BY MARINE MAINTENANCE AT TOLLESBURY ESSEX FOR HUNTER BOATS
TALK TO JACK BIRCHLEY ON 01621 860441 HE WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE HELP YOU NEED--- TELL HIM ZEPHYROS SENT YOU
THEY FITTED A NANNI 10 HP IN MY HUNTER HORIZON 23 TWO YEARS AGO
BEST THING I,VE EVER DONE --
2 CYLINDER WITH FRESH WATER COOLING
ITS SMALL QUIET ECONOMICAL RELIABLE EASY TO MAINTAIN EASY TO START AND WELL PRICED
IT HAS MADE OUR USE OF THE BOAT SO MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE
EXCELLENT FOR SINGLE HANDED SAILING
FOUND THE OUTBOARD A REAL PAIN -- WIFE COULDN,T START IT- YOU HAD TO MOVE EVERYONE OFF THE COCK PIT SEAT TO START IT -- NOISY -- UNECONOMIC --UNRELIABLE -- LACK OF POWER ESPECIALLY ONPORT TACK OR AGAIST WIND AND TIDE
ONLY SOLUTION SEEMED TO BE WAS TO FIT A DIESEL INBOARD
I SPOKE TO STEVE DALTON THE MAN THAT FITS THE NANNI INBOARDS TO ALL THE HUNTER BOATS AT HUNTERS YARD AT ROCHFORD
THEY ARE SUPPLIED AND FITTED BY MARINE MAINTENANCE AT TOLLESBURY ESSEX FOR HUNTER BOATS
TALK TO JACK BIRCHLEY ON 01621 860441 HE WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE HELP YOU NEED--- TELL HIM ZEPHYROS SENT YOU
THEY FITTED A NANNI 10 HP IN MY HUNTER HORIZON 23 TWO YEARS AGO
BEST THING I,VE EVER DONE --
2 CYLINDER WITH FRESH WATER COOLING
ITS SMALL QUIET ECONOMICAL RELIABLE EASY TO MAINTAIN EASY TO START AND WELL PRICED
IT HAS MADE OUR USE OF THE BOAT SO MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE
Joe_Cole
New member
I've got an 8hp 2 stroke Mariner Saildrive on my boat. It's a good engine and has been reliable....but its not a diesel.
I reckon that a diesel would have cheaper running costs, less smell, better battery charging, better control and certainly better reversing. (The high thrust propellors are better than the usual outboard props, but they are still not as good as you would have with a diesel.) You will also not need to fill the tanks so often, which is a real consideration if you are doing much cruising, and don't forget that you can't get petrol in some harbours. (I well remember a 4mile walk in Fowey to get 5 gallons of petrol). It will probably also be quieter.
Whether or not it makes financial sense to install a diesel is another matter.
Regards
Joe
I reckon that a diesel would have cheaper running costs, less smell, better battery charging, better control and certainly better reversing. (The high thrust propellors are better than the usual outboard props, but they are still not as good as you would have with a diesel.) You will also not need to fill the tanks so often, which is a real consideration if you are doing much cruising, and don't forget that you can't get petrol in some harbours. (I well remember a 4mile walk in Fowey to get 5 gallons of petrol). It will probably also be quieter.
Whether or not it makes financial sense to install a diesel is another matter.
Regards
Joe
Burnham_Bob
New member
If you are fitting a diesel, consider the Yanmar 1GM10. I put one in my Halcyon 23 and I'm delighted with it. Its light, never misses a beat and seems totally reliable. Maybe you'll find it cheaper than the Nanni diesel as well. You can get them reconditioned ocasionally too from the dealer on the south coast.
